DCI receives special project grant

Drum Corps International, along with 15 other Indianapolis arts and cultural organizations, will share in $1.2 million in special cultural project grants awarded by LDI, Ltd. in celebration of LDI's 100th anniversary. Announcement of the awards was made earlier today during a special presentation.

"LDI wanted to create a gift to the Indianapolis community that nurtured our company and allowed us to grow and thrive for 100 years", Andre Lacy, Chairman of the Board said. LDI's predecessor company, U.S. Corrugated-Fibre Box Company, was established in 1912 by Howard J. Lacy and two partners. Today LDI is a Forbes-ranked holding company specializing in value-added distribution and logistics-supply chain businesses.

As a result of the special project grant, DCI will have the opportunity to engage more than 1,000 middle school students, their families and music educators from throughout the state of Indiana to participate in the 2012 Drum Corps International World Championships when the prestigious event returns to Indianapolis August 9-11. Additional details surrounding the historic project will be released in the coming weeks.

The LDI 100th Anniversary Celebration Cultural Partnership Gift Program has engaged longtime partners as well as new organizations in the community. "We asked these organizations to 'dream big' for projects that would extend cultural arts programs to build bridges across our city to engage all members of our community. We are proud to partner with them," Margot Lacy Eccles, Vice President of LDI said.

"We are honored to be recognized by LDI, Ltd., with this generous grant", said Dan Acheson, Executive Director and CEO of Drum Corps International. "As a relative newcomer to the cultural and arts community here in Indianapolis, we are extremely grateful to the grant committee for partnering with us in this extraordinary way. With this award, we will have a unique opportunity to inspire a new generation of music students, their families and their teachers at our spectacular World Championships event; many of whom will be experiencing the amazing performances of the world's finest marching music ensembles for the very first time."